Psalm 50

a. Quando venit ad eum Nathan

propheta, cum intravit ad Bersabee.

When Nathan the prophet came to him, after

he had sinned with Bersabee.

PSALMUS DAVID L.

PSALM 50 OF DAVID

Miserere
mei, Deus, secundum
magnam misericordiam tuam; et
secundum multitudinem miserationum
tuarum
dele
iniquitatem
meam.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea, et a
peccato meo munda me.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy

great mercy. And according to the multitude
of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.
Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and
cleanse me from my sin.

b. Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego

cognosco et peccatum meum contra
me est semper. Tibi soli peccavi, et
malum coram te feci, ut iustificeris in
sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum
iudicaris.

For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always

before me. To thee only have I sinned, and
have done evil before thee: that thou mayest
be justified in thy words, and mayest
overcome when thou are judged.

c.
Ecce
enim
in
iniquitatibus
conceptus sum, et in peccatis
concepit me mater mea. Ecce enim
veritatem dilexisti.

For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and

in sins did my mother conceive me. For
behold thou has loved truth.

d. Incerta, et occulta sapientiae tuae

manifestasti mihi. Asperges me
hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et
super nivem dealbabor.

The uncertain and hidden things of they

wisdom thou hast made manifest to me. Thou
shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be
cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be
made whiter than snow.

e. Auditui meo dabis gaudium et

laetitiam: et exultabunt ossa humiliata.

To my hearing thou shalt give joy and

gladness: and the bones that have been
humbled shall rejoice.

f. Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis,

et omnes iniquitates meas dele. Cor
mundum crea in me, Deus, et spiritum
rectum innova in visceribus meis. Ne
proiicias me a facie tua, et spiritum
sanctum tuum ne auferas a me. Redde
mihi laetitiam salutaris tui, et spiritu
principali confirma me.

Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out

all my iniquities. Create a clean heart in me, O
God: and renew a right spirit within my
bowels. Cast me not away from thy face; and
take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto
me the joy of they salvation, and strengthen
me with a perfect spirit.

g. Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii

I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the

ad te convertentur. Libera me de
sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis
meae; et exultabit lingua mea iustitiam
tuam. Domine, labia mea aperies, et os
meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.

wicked shall be converted to thee. Deliver me

from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation:
and my tongue shall extol thy justice. O Lord,
thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall
declare thy praise.

h. Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium,

dedissem utique: holocaustis non
delectaberis. Sacrificium Deo spiritus
contribulatus: cor contritum, et
humiliatum, Deus non despicies.

For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, i would

indeed have given it: with burnt offerings
thou wilt not be delighted. A sacrifice to God
is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled
heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

i. Benigne fac, Domine, in bona

voluntate tua Sion, ut aedificentur muri
Hierusalem.
Tunc
acceptabis
sacrificium iustitiae, oblationes, et
holocausta: tunc imponent super
altare tuum vitulos.

Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with

Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built
up. Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of
justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings:
then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.

a. In praecedentibus Psalmis huius

decadis videtur Psalmista egisse de his
quae pertinent ad statum Regni, cuius
gloriam descripsit, et alios ad eam
invitavit: nunc autem, quia gloria huius
Regni impedita est per peccatum, agit de
abolitione peccati: ubi duo consideranda
sunt.

In the foregoing Psalms of this decade, the

Psalmist is seen to have dealt with those things
that pertain to the state of the Kingdom, whose
glory he described and invited others to it: now,
however, because the glory of this Kingdom is
impeded through sin, he deals with the
abolishment of sin: whence two things must be
considered.

Primum quod in ordine Psalmorum hic

Psalmus est quinquagesimus; et hic est
numberus iubilaeus, ut dicitur Lev. 27 in
quo fiebat remissio omnium debitorum:
unde congruit hic numerus huic Psalmo,
in quo agit de plena remissione
peccatorum.

First, that in the numbering of the Psalms, this

Psalm is the fiftieth and this is the number of
jubilee as is described in Leviticus 27 in which a
remission of all debts was made, whence this
number agrees with this Psalm in which he
treats of full remission of sins.

Similiter quantum ad poenitentiales iste

ponitur quartus, et convenienter. Nam
primus pertinet ad cordis contritionem:
unde dicit (Ps. 6) Lavabo per singulas
noctes lectum meum. Secundus pertinet
ad oris confessionem. (Ps. 31) Dixi
Confitebor adversum me iniustitiam
meam Domino. Tertius pertinet ad
satisfactionem: unde dicit (Ps. 37)
Afflictus sum, et humiliatus sum nimis.

Similarly, as to the Penitential Psalms, this one

is placed fourth, and suitably. For the first
pertains to contrition of heart: whence he says
(Psalm 6) Every night I will wash my bed. The
second pertains to the confession by mouth
(Psalm 31) I said I will confess against myself
my injustice to the Lord. The third pertains to
satisfaction; whence he says (Psalm 37) I am
afflicted and humbled exceedingly. This fourth
one, however, pertains to the purpose of

Hic autem quartus pertinet ad effectum

poenitentiae: in quo ostenditur quomodo
poenitentia restaurat hominem ad
perfectum; et ideo inter omnes alios
Psalmos inste magis frequentatur in
Ecclesia, quia iste solum implorat
misericordiam, et sic impetrat veniam; et
hoc facile st, et cuilibet potest competere.

repentance, in which it is shown how repentance

restores man to perfection; and therefore, among
all the other Psalms, this one is more often
repeated in Church because it alone beseeches
mercy and thus it obtains favour; and this is easy
and caan be suitable for anyone.

In
aliis
autem
sex
Psalmis
poenitentialibus sunt quaedam gravia,
sicut (Ps. 6) Lavabo per singulas noctes
lectum meum. Et (Ps. 101) Cinerem
tanquam panem manducabam et potum
meum cum fletu mescebam: quae non
possunt cuilibet competere.

Now in the other six Penitential Psalms there are

certain burdensome things such as (Psalm 6)
Every night I will wash my bed. And (Psalm 101)
I did eat ashes like bread and mingled my drink
with weeping, which cannot be suitable for
anyone.

Titulus talis est: Psalmus David, quando

venit ad eum Nathan propheta, cum
intravit ad Bersabee. Haec historia
habetur expresse II. Regum 11. et 12.
capp. Quando David erat in prosperitate
vidit mulierem lavantem se, et concupivit
eam, et adulteravit, et fecit occidere virum
eius. Et hoc displicuit Deo, et missus est
ad eum Nathan propheta, et reduxit eum
in detestationem sui peccati, sub
similitudine ovis perditae. Et David dixit:
"Peccavi Domino." Et dimissum est ei
peccatum. Et haec est materia huius
Psalmi, scilicet dimissio peccati.

Such is the title: A Psalm of David when Nathan

the prophet came to him when he had sinned
with Bersabee. This story is contained expressly
in Chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Kings. When David
was in prosperity, he saw a woman bathing
herself and he greatly desired her and caused
the death of her husband. And this was
displeasing to God and the prophet Nathan was
sent to him and brought him back to hatred for
his sin, under the image of a lost sheep. And
David said, "I have sinned against the Lord."
And the sin was forgiven him. And this is the
matter of this Psalm, namely, the forgiveness of
sins.

Sed sciendum est in titulo huius Psalmi,

quod David in aliis Psalmis loquitur de
aliis; sicut ibi (Ps. 21) Deus Deus meus,
loquitur praenuntians passionem Christi;
et sic in diversis Psalmis loquitur de
diversis. Sed istum Psalmum propter
seipsum fecit: in quo ostendit culpam,
quam fecit mundo manifestam, et similiter
veniam; et sic implerunt illud quod
Dominus dixit 2. Reg. 12. "Tu fecisti hoc
in occulto; et ego facima illud
manifestum."

But it must be understood in the title of this

Psalm that David speaks of other things in
Psalms, as where (Psalm 21) he says O God,
my God, foretelling the passion of Christ; and so
in different Psalms he speaks of different things.
But he made this Psalm for his very own
account: in which he shows his fault, which he
made manifest to the world and similarly his
pardon and thus they will have fulfilled that
which the Lord said in 2 Kings 12, "For thou
didst it secretly, but I will make this thing
manifest."

Ratio autem huius manifestationis est

divina misericordia. Nam utilis est iustis
haec manifestatio, ut non praesumant de

Now the reason for this manifestation is divine

mercy. For this manifestation is useful for the
righteous in order that they not presume on their

sua iustitia quia si David post tot

victorias, post donum Spiritus sancti, post
tantam familiaritatem cum Deo, et
prophetiam peccavit; quantum debemus
cavere nos, qui fragiles, et peccatores
sumus? 1. Cor. 10. "Qui se existimat
stare, videat ne cadat." Item utilis est
peccatoribus, ut non desperent. Prov. 24.
"Si desperaveris lapsus, in die angustiae
imminuetur fortitudo tua." Nam David post
homicidium, et adulterium recuperavit
gratiam prophetiae.

own righteousness, for if David, after so many

victories, after the gift of the Holy Spirit, after
such a great intimacy with God and prophecy did
sin, how much more ought we to beware, we
who are frail and sinners? 1 Corinthians 10 "He
that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed
lest he fall." Also it is profitable for sinners lest
they despair. Proverbs 24 "If thou lose hope
being weary in the day of distress, thy strength
shall be diminished." For David, after murder
and adultery recovered the grace of prophecy.

Notandus est autem modus loquendi in

titulo: Quando venit: ubi designat veniam,
de qua agitur in Psalmo, quia per eum
audivit eum Dominus, et transtulit
peccatum illius; sed cum dicit, Quando
intravit ad Bersabee designatur culpa.
Ubi duo ostenta sunt. Primum quod
nominat culpam, cum dicit, Et intravit. Ps.
11. "Eloquia Domini eloquia casta."

Now the manner of speaking in the title, When

Nathan came, must be noted: where it
designates pardon about which he is moved in
the Psalm because through it the Lord heard him
and bore away his sin; but when he says, When
he sinned with Bersabee, guilt is designated.
Whence two things have been shown. The first
which he calls guilt when he says, And he
sinned. Psalm 11 "The words of the Lord are
pure words."

Item cum commisisset duo peccata,

scilicet adulterium, et homicidium,
Scriptura nominavit adulterium tantum; et
hoc propter duo. Primum ut designet
quod in scrutandis, et publicandis
peccatis aliorum non simus prompti, sed
valde parci. Prov. 24. "Ne insidieris, ut
quaeras impeitatem in domo iusti." Et hoc
signatur Matth. 25. ubi Dominus merita
bonorum enumerat diligenter, demerita
malorum transiit. Item adnotandum, quod
quando quis facit duo peccata, et unum
facit propter aliud, unum transit in
speciem alterius; sicut qui committit
furtum ut fornicetur, dicitur potius
fornicator.

Also, although he had committed two sins,

namely adultery and murder, Scripture names
adultery and that for two reason. First, in order to
designate that in examining and making public
the sins of others, we be not quick, but
exceedingly sparing. Proverbs 24: "Lie not in
wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of
the just." And this is indicated by Matthew 25
where the Lord reckons up carefully the merits of
the good, he has passed over the desserts of the
bad. Likewise it should be noted that when
anyone commits two sins and does one for the
sake of the other, the one passes over into the
likeness of the other, as one who commits theft
in order to fornicate is called above all a
fornicator.

Dividitur autem iste Psalmus in duas

partes:
primo
enim
implorat
misericordiam;
secundo
promittit
emendam, ibi, Docebo iniquos. Circa
primum duo facit. Primo petit culpae
relaxationem; secundo petit sanctitatis, et
gratiae restaurationem, ibi, Quonima

And this psalm is divided into two parts: indeed

in the first he beseeches mercy; in the second,
he promises correction, where he says, I will
teach the unjust. About the first he does two
things. One, he seeks mitigation of guilt; two, he
seeks the restoriation of holiness and grace
where he says, For my iniquity.

iniquitatem.
Petit ergo primo misericordiam Dei, cum
dicit: Miserere mei, Deus. Ubi sciendum
est, quod, sicut dicitur Prov. 14. "miseros
facit populos peccatum." Sicut enim non
est vere felix qui abundat divitiis, fruitur
voluptatibus, pollet honoribus, sed qui
fruitur Deo; ita non est miser qui est
pauper, miser, et debilis, et infirmus, sed
qui est peccator: et ideo iste qui est
peccator, dicit: Miserere mei, Deus, tu
scilicet qui "misereris omnium, et nihil
odisti eorum quae fecisti:" Sap. 11. et
secundum Apostolum misereris cui vis.
Rom. 9. "Miserebor cui voluero." Ergo si
voluntati tuae subest misereri, Miserere
mei, scilicet peccatoris.

Therefore, he seeks first the mercy of God when

he says: Have mercy on me, O God. Whence it
must be known that, as it is said in Proverbs 14,
"sin maketh nations miserable." Indeed, just as
he is not truly happy who abounds in riches,
delights in pleasures, possesses honours in
abundance, but he who delights in God; so, he is
not miserable who is poor, wretched and feeble
and weak, but he who is a sinner; and therefore
the one who is a sinner says: Have mercy on
me, O God, Thou, namely who "hast mercy upon
all and hatest none of the things which thou hast
made" (Wisdom 11) and, according to the
Apostle, you have mercy on whom you wish.
Romans 9 "I shall have mercy on whom I wish."
Therefore, if to have mercy exists under your
will, Have mercy on me, plainly, a sinner.

Non vult contendere, non quaerit

disputare, sed brevi utitur via, Miserere.
Item non allegat misericordiae causam,
non servitia quae fecit Deo, non periricula
quae sustinuit pro eo; sed solum Dei
misericordiam implorat: unde dicit:
Secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
Dan. 9. "Non in iustificationibus nostris
prosternimus preces ante faciem tuam;
sed in miserationibus tuis multis."

He does not wish to contend, he does not seek

to dispute, but he makes use of a brief way,
Have mercy. Likewise, he does not adduce as a
cause ofr mercy, either the services he has done
for God, or the dangers he has sustained for him;
but he only implores the mercy of God, whence
he says, According to thy great mercy. Daniel 9
"For it is not for our justifications that we present
our prayers before thy face, but for the multitude
of thy tender mercies."

Et notandum, quod aliquis potest sperare

de misericofria divina, duplici ratione.
Una ratio est ex consideratione, et
secundum multitudinem effectuum eius.

And it must be noted that anyone can hope on

divine mercy with a two-fold reason. One reason
is from reflection, and according to the multitude
of his accomplishments.

Primo ergo ostendit quod sperat de

misericordia Dei, ex consideratione
naturae divinae, quia naturae divinae
proprium est quod sit ipsa bonitas. Unde
Dionysius dicit, quod Deus est ipsa
substantia bonitatis. Et Boethius de Trin.
similiter. Unde nihil aliud est haec Dei
misericordia, nisi bonitas relata ad
depellandam miseriam. Ergo cum
considero quod bonitatis miseriam
repellere est proprium, et tamen est ipsa
bonitas, confidenter ad misericordiam

First, therefore, he shows that he hopes on the

mercy of God from reflection on the divine
nature, for it is a characteristic of the divine
nature that it be goodness itself. Whence
Dionysius says that God is the very substance of
goodness. And likewise, Boethius On the Trinity.
Whence this mercy of God is nothing other than
goodness referred to the driving away of
wretchedness. Therefore, when I reflect that it is
a characteristic of goodness to drive away
wretchedness and yet it is itself goodness, with
confidence I have recourse to mercy.

recurro.
Et
dicitur
magna,
sua
incomprehensibilitate, qua implet omnia.
Ps. 32. Misericordia Domini plena est
terra.

And it is called great, with its own

incomprehensibility, by which it fills all things.
Psalm 32. The earth is full of the mercy of the
Lord.

Et in omnibus habet locum, Nam iusti

innocentiam
servaverunt
propter
misericordiam Dei. Augustines: "Domine,
gratiae tuae deputo mala quae non feci."

And it has a place in all things. For the righteous

have preserved their innocence because of the
mercy of God. Augustine: "O Lord, I impute to
your grace the evils that I have not done."

Item peccatores sunt conversi ad

iustitiam propter Dei misericordiam. 1.
Tim. 1. "Misericordiam consecutus sum."

Also, sinners have been turned to righteousness

because of the mercy of God. 1. Timothy 1 "I
obtained the mercy of God."

Item in peccato existentes misericordiam

Dei experti sunt. Tren. 3. "Misericordiae
Domini multae quod non sumus
consumpti."

Also, those living in sin have experienced the

mercy of God. Lamentations 3. "The many
mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed."

Item dicitur magna sublimitate, quia

miserationes eius super omnia opera
eius.

Also it is said with great sublimity because his

tender mercies are upon all his works.

Nam misericordia non signat in Deo

passionem animi, sed bonitatem ad
repellendam miseriam. Item magna,
duratione. Is. 34. "In misericordia
sempiterna misertus sum tui."

For mercy does not designate in God passion of

the intellect, but goodness for driving away
wretchedness. And it is great in duration. Isaiah
34. "With everlasting kindness have I had mercy
on thee."

Item magna, virtute, quia Deum hominem

fecit, de caelo Deum ad terram deposuit,
et immortalem mori fecit. Eph. 2. "Deus
autem, qui dives est in misericordia."

Likewise, great in power for it made God man, it

brought God down from heaven to earth and
made the immortal to die. Ephesians 2. "But God
who is rich in mercy."

Item magna per effectum, quia ex omni

miseria potest homo per misericordiam
elevari. Ps. 85. Misericordia tua magna
est super me, et remisisti impietatem
peccati mei (Ps. 31). Et ideo confidenter
peto: Miserere mei Deus.

Likewise, great through accomplishment

because through mercy man can be lifted up
from every misfortune. Psalm 85. Thy mercy is
great towards me and Thou hast forgiven the
wickedness of my sin (Psalm 31). And therefore
with confidence I ask: Have mercy on me, O
God.

Item alia ratio est, quia in omnibus a

principio
mundi
inveni
effectus
misericordiae tuae; et ideo dicit: Et
secundum multitudinem miserationum

Also, another reason is that from the beginning

of the world I have found in all things the effects
of your mercy; and therefore he says: And
according to the multitude of thy tender mercies

tuarum dele iniquitatem meam; quasi

dicat: Miserere mei secundum quod
multipliciter, et in diversis misertus es
omnibus hominibus. Unde dicitur Isa. 63.
"Miserationum Domini recordabor." Ps.
24. "Reminiscere miserationum tuarum
quae a saeculo sunt."

blot out my iniquity; as though he were saying:

Have mercy on me accordingly, as variously and
in manifold ways you ahve been merciful to all
men. Whence it is said in Isaiah 63: "I will
remember the tender mercies of the Lord."
Psalm 24: "Remember thy bowels of
compassion that are from the beginning of the
world."

Dele iniquitatem meam. Hic ponit

effectum miserendi. Nathan dixit (II Reg.
12) "Dominus transtulit peccatum tuum:
non morieris." Et sic erat securus de
venia; sed volebat totaliter peccatum
extirpari. Remanet autem duplex effectus
peccati: scilicet reatus poenae, et macula
in anima.

Blot out my iniquity. Here he sets forth the effect

of having mercy. Nathan said (II Kings 12) "The
Lord has taken away thy sin: thou shalt not die."
And thus he was secure from punishment; but he
wanted his sin to be eradicated totally. There
remains however a double effect of sin: that is to
say the charge of punishment and a stain on the
soul.

Primo ergo petit removeri reatum poenae;

et ideo dicit: Amplius lava me ab
iniquitate mea. Sciendum est quod Hier.
17 dicitur quod "peccatum Iuda scriptum
fuit stylo ferreo in ungue adamantino:" ad
similitudinem iudicis qui scribit culpam,
quae tamdiu servatur script quamdiu
habet animum puniendi. Sed si deponit
hunc animum, non servat scripturam. Et
sic scriptum stylo adamantino dicitur
quando peccatum non deletur. Et hoc est
quod dicit: Dele iniquitatem meam; idest,
non imputes mihi iniquitatem ad poenam.
Is. 43. "Ego sum qui deleo iniquitates
vestras." Item Ibid 44. "Delevi ut nubes
iniquitates tuas, et quasi nebulam
peccata tua."

First therefore he asks that the charge of

punishment be removed; and therefore he says:
Wash me yet more from my iniquity. It should be
known that in Jeremias 17 it is said that "The sin
of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the
point of a diamond:" in the likeness of a judge
who writes a punishment which so long as it is
preserved written, thus lon godes it have the
spirit of punishing. But if he puts aside this spirit,
he does not preserve the scripture. And thus,
written with a pen hard as steel is said when sin
is not blotted out. And this is why he says: Blot
out my iniquity; that is, you will not impute to me
iniquity for punishment. Isaiah 43: "I am, I am he
that blot out your iniquities." Also, in the same
44: "I have blotted out thy iniquities as clouds
and thy sins as a mist."

Amplius. Hic petit removeri immunditiam

culpae. Homo qui habet mentem bene
dispositam plus abhorret immunditiam
culpae, quam austeritatem posenae, et
ideo dicat: Amplius lava me, quasi dicat:
Peto ut deleas poenam; sed amplius peto
quod mundes maculam.

Yet more. Here he asks that the uncleanness of

guilt be removed. The man who has a welldisposed conscience abhors more the
uncleanness of the guilt than the severity of the
punishment, and therefore says: Wash me yet
more, as if he were saying: I ask that you blot out
the punishment, but I ask yet more that you
cleanse the stain.

Vel amplius lava, quam eog intelligo. Ro.

8. "Nam quid oremus sicut oportet

Or, Wash yet more which I understand Romans

8: "For we know not what we should pray for as

nescimus." Eph. 3. "Et qui potens est

omnia facere superabundanter quam
petimus, aut intelligimus."
Duo susnt necessaria ad removendum
maculam; scilicet ablutio praecedens, et
munditia sequens. In corporibus ablutio fit
per aquam; et sic secundum Glossam
Psalmus per aquam praefigurat virtutem
baptismi, qua Deus dimissurus erat
peccatum. Ezec. 36. "Effundam super vos
aquam mundam, et mundabimini ab
omnibus inquinamentis vestris." Zach.
13. "Erit fons patens domui David in
ablutionem peccatorum, et menstruatae."
Et licet baptismus nondum institutus
esset, tamen virtus Dei lavans erat in
baptismo. Ergo Lava me ab iniquitate
mea. Hierem. 4. "Lava a malitia cor tuum,
Hierusalem, ut salva fias."

we ought." Ephesians 3: "Who is able to do all

things more abundantly than we ask for or
understand."
Two things are necessary for removing a stain,
namely, a preceding washing and a following
cleanliness. In bodies a washing is made
through water, and so, according to the Gloss,
the Psalm, through water, prefigures the power
of baptism, by whcih God would be removing
sin. Ezech. 36: "I will pour upon you clean water,
and you shall be cleansed from all you filthiness.
Zach. 13: "There shall be a fountain open to the
house of David for the washing of sinners and of
the unclean woman." And although baptism had
not yet been instituted, nevertheless the power
of God was washing in baptism. Therefore,
Wash me from my iniquity. Jeremias 4: "Wash
thy heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that
thou mayest be saved."

Item peto ut mundes me a peccato, quia

nullus mundatur nisi a te. Iob. 14. "Quis
potest facere mundum de immundo
conceptum semine?" Eccli. 34. "Ab
immundo quis nundabitur?" Et dicit duo,
scilicet iniquitatem, et peccatum. Iniquitas
est contraria iustitiae; peccatum vero
munditiae, et hoc est adulterium. Et sic
iniquitas fuit inquantum laesit alium per
homicidium; sed peccatum est per
adulterium in quo se polluit.

Also I ask that you cleanse me of sin for none is

cleansed except by you. Job 14. "Who can make
him clean that is conceived of unclean seed?"
Eccli. 34. "Who will be made clean by the
unclean?" And he says two things, namely,
iniquity is opposed to justice, but sin to
cleanliness and adultery is this. And thus it was
iniquity insofar as he harmed another through
murder; but it is sin through the adultery in which
he made himself unclean.

b. Quoniam. Hic confitetur culpam: et

primo confitetur culpam; secundo ostendit
hanc confessionem esse Deo acceptam.
Primo ergo confitetur culpam; secundo
ipsam culpam exaggerat, ibi, Tibi soli
peccavi; tertio eius originem demonstrat,
ibi, Ecce enim.

For. Here he acknowledges guilt: and first he

acknowledges the guilt, secondly he shows that
this confession has been accepted by God. First,
therefore, he acknowledges guilt, secondly he
amplifies the same guilt, where he says, To
Thee only have I sinned; thirdly he shows its
origin, where he says, For behold.

Recognoscit ergo culpam suam dicens,

Quoniam iniquitatem. Quidam sunt qui
peccata sua non cognoscunt propter tres
causas. Quia aggravatur ratio ex gravitate
peccati. Prov. 18. "Impius cum in
profundum
peccatorum
venerit,
contemnit." Ps. 39. Comprehenderunt me
iniquitates meae, et non potui ut viderem.

Therefore he recognizes his guilt saying, For

iniquity. There are certain ones who do not
perceive thier sins on account of three causes.
For the reckoning is made worse from the weight
of the sin. Proverbs 18: "The wicked man when
he is come into the depth of sincs, contemneth."
Psalm 39: My iniquities have overtaken me, and
I was not able to see.

Item quia non recordantur. Eccli. 5.

"Oblitus est deliciarum suarum."

Also because they do not remember. Eccli. 5:

"He has forgotten his delights."

Item propter adulationes hominum. Ps. 9.

Laudatur peccator in desideriis anima
sua.

Also, because of the flatterings of men. Psalm 9:

The sinner is praised in the desires of his soul.

Et ideo quia alii laudant eum de peccatis,

ipse non recognoscit. Sed felix qui
peccatum suum recognoscit sicut David.
Prov. 14. "Cor quod novit amaritudinem
animae suae, in gaudio eius non
cognoscetur extraneus."

And therefore, because others praise him for his

sins, he does not remember. But happy is he
who, like David, remembers his sin. Proverbs
14: "The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his
own soul, in his joy the stranger shall not
intermeddle."

Quantum ad secundum dicit: Et peccatum

meum contra me est semper. Quidam
sunt qui etsi cognoscant peccatum suum,
tamen non detestantur; sed iste semper
peccatum suum contra se habet ut
contrarium, et nocivum et detestabile. Et
dicit, Semper. Quidam sunt qui ad horam
detestantur
peccatum.
Iac.
1:
"Consideravit se, et abiit, et statim oblitus
est qualis fuerit." Isa. 38: "Recogitabo tibi
omnes annos meos in amaritu animae
meae." Psalmus: Iniquitatem meam ego
cognosco.

As to the second he says: And my sin is always

before me. There are certain ones who, although
they perceive their sin, nevertheless do not
abominate it; but that sin of theirs always holds
against itself as inimical and hurtful and
detestable. And he says Always. There are
some who abominate their sin for a time. James
1: "For he beheld himself, and went his way, and
presently ofrgot what manner of man he was."
Isaiah 38: "I will recount to thee all my years in
the bitterness of my soul." The psalm: I know my
iniquity.

Alia littera, Coram me; et sic designatur

quod recognoscit culpam, quod continue
meditatur de ea. Et hoc statutum est
coram eo per Nathoan prophetam sub
similitudine.

Another text, In my presence, and thus it is

described that he knows his guilt, and that he
continuously reflects upon it. And this was
brought about through Nathan the prophet under
a similitude.

Tibi soli peccavi. Supra Psalmista posuit

recognitionem propriae culpae; hic autem
exaggerat culpam suam; et circa hoc duo
facit. Primo exaggerat ipsam; secundo
ponit id quod ad exaggerationem
consequitur, ibi, Ut iustificeris. Hanc
culpam exaggerat per respectum ad
Deum, et dupliciter, ut dicitur Hier. 29.
"Ego ero iudex, et testis." Videtur autem
Deum iudicem contemnere qui non timet
peccare propter iudicium eius. Et similiter
contemnit Deum testem qui peccat in
oculis eius; et ideo dicit: Tibi soli peccavi.

To thee only have I sinned. Above, the Psalmist

put down the recognition of his own guilt: here
however he amplifies his guilt and about this he
does two things. First he amplifies it; second he
sets forth that which follows upon the
amplification where he says, That thou mayest
be justified. He amplifies this guilt by way of
respect for God in a two-fold manner as it is said
in Jeremiah 29: "I will be the judge and the
witness." It seems, however, that he who does
not fear to sin because of his judgment despises
God as a judge. And similarly he despises God
as a witness who sins in his eyes; and therefore

he says: To thee only have I sinned.

Sed numquid non peccavit contra Uriam
quem occidit? Sic; sed dicit, Tibi soli; id
est Deo, quia ipse non est obnoxius
famulo suo, sed sententiae Dei. Cum
enim peccat dominus, qui est super
servum, non peccat servo, sed Deo. Sap.
6. "Potestas vobis data est a Domino, et
virtus ab Altissimo, qui interrogabit opera
vestra, et cognitationes scrutabitur."

But has he not sinned against Urias whom he

killed? But he says, To thee only, that is, to God,
for he is not guilty to his servant, but to the
judgment of God. For when a master, who is
over his servant, sins, he does not sin against
the servant, but against God. Wisdom 6: "Power
is given you by the Lord, and strength by the
Most Hight who will examine your works, and
search out your thoughts."

Vel tibi soli, idest per comparationem ad

te solum peccavi: et potest hoc referri
sive ad Deum, sive ad Christum. Deo
dicitur peccare per comparationem ad
iustum; et sic, Tibi soli peccavi, quia
solus es sine peccato. Et similiter
Crhistus omnino fuit sine peccato. Tibi
ergo soli peccavi, contemnendo iudicium
tuum. Item contempsi te testem, quia
malum coram te feci: vidente et praesente
feci. Prov. 15. "Infernus et perditio coram
Domino; quanto magis corda filiorum
hominum?" Eccli. 23. "Oculi Domini
multo lucidiores supra solem."

Or, to thee only, that is, by comparison, against

you only have I sinned: and this can be referred
either to God or to Christ. To sin against God is
said by comparison to the just one; and thus To
thee only have I sinned, by despising your
judgment. Likewise I despised you as a witness,
for I have done evil before thee: I have done this
to you seeing and present. Proverbs 15: "Hell
and destruction are before the Lord: how much
more the hearts of the children of men?" Eccli.
23. "The eyes of the Lord are far brighter than
the sun."

Ut iustificeris. Hic ponitur quod

consequens
est
ad
istam
exaggerationem;
et
hoc
potest
multipliciter legi: sed primo quod magis
videtur dicam. Ut enim quandoque
ponitur
causaliter,
quandoque
consecutive tantum; et tunc est eius
s e n s u s : Malum coram te feci, ut
iustificeris tu, quia nullus propter
peccatum
iustificatur;
sed
hoc
consequitur ex peccato, quia ex hoc ipso
quod
homo
peccat, iustitia
Dei
manifestior redditur.

That thou mayest be justified. Here is set forth

what is attendant upon that amplification; and
this can be read in manifold ways: but first I shall
say what appears more greatly. Now That, at
some time is set forth causally, at some time it is
set forth consecutively only: and this is its
understanding: I have done evil before thee, that
thou mayest be justified, for none is justified on
account of sin, but this follows from sin, that from
the very fact that man sins, the justice of God is
rendered more manifiest.

Nam ex peccatis eius apparuit quod eum

Deus punivit. Haec autem punitio
consistit in duobus. Primo comminatur;
secundo infert poenam; et in utroque est
iustus. Quantum ad primim dicit, In
sermonibus, quibus poenam comminaris.
Prov. 8. "Iusti sunt sermones mei."

For it appeared that God punished him for his

sins. But this punishment consists in two things.
First, he threatens; secondly, he imposes a
penalty; and in both he is just. As to the first he
says, In thy words, by which you threaten a
penalty. Proverbs 8: "My words are just." As for
the second he says, Thou mayest overcome

Quantum ad secundum dicit, Vincas, cum

iudicaris; idest cum aliis in iudicio
compararis.
Frequenter
Deus
ad
ostendam suam iustitiam et nostram
etiam vult nobiscum iudicari. Isa. 5.
"Iudicate inter me et vineam meam." Et in
hoc Deus iustior invenitur. Iob. 9. "Si
contendere cum Deo voluerit, non poterit
et respondere unum pro mille."

when thou art judged: that is, when you are

considered in judgment with others. Often God
wishes to be judged with us to show forth his
justice and ours as well. Isaiah 5: "Judge
between me and my vineyard." And in this God
is found more just. Job 9: "If he will contend with
God, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.

Et quod haec sit intentio Psalmi, patet ex

Apostolo Rom. 3. "Est autem Deus verax,
omnis homo mendax, sicut scriptum est."

And that this should be the purpose of the Psalm

is clear from the Apostle: Romans 3: "But God is
true; and every man a liar, as it is written."

Sed in glossa, loquitur, ut hoc quod

dicitur, Iustificeris in sermonibus suis, et
vincas cum iudicaris, non continetur cum
Malum coram te feci; sed cum hoc quod
d i c i t , Tibi
soli,
idest
ad
tui
comparationem, qui solus es iustus, et
intantum quod omnes sermones tui iusti.
Et sic Ut ponitur causaliter; quasi dicat:
Intantum es iustus ut iustificeris.

But in the Gloss it says that that which is said,

That thou mayest be justified in thy words and
mayest overcome when thou art judged may not
be joined together with I have done evil before
thee; but with this, that he says, To thee only,
that is for comparison with you, who only are
just, and inasmuch as all your words are just.
And thus, That is set forth causally; as if he were
saying: Inasmuch as you are just, that thou
mayest be justified.

Vel si referatur ad Christum, sic est

sensus: Tibi soli, scilicet Christo, peccavi,
quia es iustus, et vincas omnes homines,
cum iudicaris, licet iudiceris a Pilato.

Or if it be referred to Christ, the sense is thus: To

thee only, that is to say, to Christ, have I sinned,
for you are just, and mayest overcome all men
when thou art judged, even judged by Pilate.

Vel aliter: Ut iustificeris in hoc, amplius

peto ut laves me, ad hoc ut iustificeris;
scilicet, promissiones nostrae perfecte
verae sint, scilicet de Christo nascituro;
cui promissum est (Ps. 131) De fructu
ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam. Et
quod peccatum remitteretur. II. Reg. 12.
"Dominus transtulit tibi peccatum tuum."
Et vincas cum iudicaris, ab hominibus,
quod non debeas implere promissa, et
non debeas delere peccata mea.

Or, otherwise: That thou mayuest be justified in

this, yet more do I seek that you wash me that
thou mayest be justified in this, that is to say, that
our promises may be completely true, anmely
about the Christ to be born; to whom it was
promised (Psalm 131). Of the fruit of thy womb I
will set upon thy throne. And that sin might be
dismissed, II Kings 12: "The Lord hath taken
away thy sin." And that thou mayest overcome
when thou art judged by men, for you are not
bound to fulfill the things promised and you are
not bound to blot out my sins.

c. Ecce enim. Hic ponit radicem culpae.

Radix omnis culpae actualis est
peccatum originale, quod a parentibus
contrahitur infectis illo peccato. Haec
infectio erat in patre ipsius David, et in

For behold. Here he sets forth the root of guilt.

The root of all actual guilt is original sin which is
contracted from parents tainted with that sin.
This tainting was in the father of David himself,
and in his mother. As to has father, he says: I

matre. Qauntum ad patrem dicit: In

iniquitatibus
conceptus
sum,
non
actualibus, quia non de adulterio, sed de
matrimonio, et sancto Iesse natus, sive
generatus est, ut dicitur Ruth ultimo; sed
in originali: nam in hoc peccato omnes
nascuntur. Rom. 5. "Per unum hominem
in hunc mundum peccatum intravit."

was conceived in iniquities, not in actual sins, for

not of adultery, but of marriage, and he was born
to, or sprung from, the hold Jesse, as it is said in
the final chapter of Ruth; but in original sin: for in
this sin all are born. Romans 5: "By one man sin
entered this world."

Sed cum originale sit unum, quare dicit:

In iniquitatibus conceptus sum?

But since there is one original sin, why does he

say: I was conceived in iniquities?

Dicendum est, quod peccatum originale

est unum is essentia, ut sic dicatur, multa
tamen in virtute: quia occasionem
praebet ad omnia alia peccata. Rom. 7.
"Peccatum quod est in carne mea
operatur." Et hoc diminuit culpam; quasi
dicat: Non est mirum si pecco, quia in eis
conceptus sum.

It must be said that original sin is one in

essence, as it thus may be said, many, however,
in power: for it furnishes opportunity for all other
sins. Romans 7: "The sin which is in my flesh is
effectual." And this lessens guilt, as if he were
saying: It is not astonishing if I sin, for I was
conceived in them.

Quantum ad matrem dicit: Et in peccatis

concepit me mater mea.

As for his mother he says: And in sins did my

mother conceive me.

Sed numquid non erant mundati parentes

David per circumcisionem ab originali
peccato?

But had not the parents of David been cleansed

from original sin through circumsicion?

Dicendum est, quod baptismus, et

circumcisio mundat animam a culpa
originali, sed adhuc ramanet fomes; et
circumcisio fiebat in carne, et homo
generat filios
carnales
secundum
carnem: et ideo necesse erat quod iterum
filius natus circumcideretur; sicut modo
natus ex parentibus baptizatis baptizatur.

It must be said that baptism and circumcision

clease the soul of original guilt, but so far
incitement remains; and circumcision was done
in the flesh, and man engenders fleshly children
according to the flesh: and therefore it was
necessary again that a son having been born
should be circumcised; as now one born of
baptized parents is baptized.

Alia littera habet: Alit me mater mea. Et

hoc ad actualia peccata refertur; quia
etiam in pueris inordinati motus
inveniuntur, ut Augustinus
in
6
Confessiones dicit.

Another text has: My mother sustains me. And

this refers to actual sins; for likewise in children
are found irregular disturbances as Augstine
says in Confessions 6.

Alia littera habet: Peperit me mater mea.

Et sic quia quidam sanctificantur in utero;
sed omnes praeter Christum concipiuntur
in originali; ideo dicit quod non est
sanctificatus in utero, sed natus in

Another text has: My mother brought me forth.

And thus certain ones are sanctified in the
womb; but all except Christ are conceived in
original sin; therefore he says that he was not
sanctified in the womb, but born in original sin.

originali.
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti. Qui vult
satisfacere, debet diligere ea quae Deus
diligit; Deus autem diligit veritatem fidei.
Io. 18. "Omnis qui est ex veritate, audit
vocem meam." Item iustitiam. Ps. 88.
Misericordia, et meritas praecedent
faciem tuam. Et hae necessaria est in
poenitente, ut in se puniat quod deliquit.

For behold thou has loved truth. He who wishes

to give satisfaction, should love those things that
God loves; but God loves the truth of faith. John
18: "Everyone that is of the truth heareth my
voice." Also, justice. Psalm 88: "Mercy and truth
shall go before thy face." And this is necessary
in him who repents, that he might inflict
punishment upon himself because he
transgressed.

Item est necessaria

confiteatur peccata.

ut

Also confession is necessary that he confess his

sins.

d. Incerta. Hic petit totaliter reparationem:

et primo ponit spem quem habet:
secundo petitionem. Et primo ponit
acceptum beneficium, per quod erigitur in
spem; secundo ponit suam fiduciam, ibi,
Asperges me.

The uncertain things. Here he asks for

reparation totally: and first he sets forth the hope
that he has: secondly, a request. And first he
sets forth the kindness received through which
he is raised up into hope; second, he sets forth
his trust, where he says, Thou shalt sprinkle me.

Commemoravit beneficium potentiae,

cum dixit, Incerta, et occulta: qui scilicet
Rex habui beneficium prophetiae. II Reg.
23. "Spiritus Domini locutus est per me;
et sermo eius per linguam meam." Et
ponit tria: scilicet materiam prophetiae,
modum, et causam.

He called to mind the benefit of potency, when

he said, The uncertain and hidden things: for I,
certainly as King, had the benefit of prophecy. II
Kings 23: "The spirit of the Lord hath spoken by
me, and his word by my tongue." And he sets
forth three things: namely, the matter of
prophecy, the method, and the cause.

Materiam prophetiae ostendit cum dicit,

Incerta, et occulta. De his est prophetia;
scilicet, incerta, et occulta, quae per
sapientiam tuam comprehenduntur. In
nobis est aliquid ignotum dupliciter, quod
tamen est Deo notum. Aut propter
defectum est nobis aliquid ignotum, aut
propter excessum.

He shows forth the matter of prophecy when he

s a y s , The uncertain and hidden things.
Prophecy is about these things; namely the
uncertain and hidden things that are
comprehended through your wisdom. In us,
something is unknown in a two-fold way, which,
nevertheless, is known to God. Something in
unknown to us either on account of defect, or on
account of excess.

Propter defectum est nobis ignotum

aliquid futurum contingens: quia nundum
habet determinatam veritatem.

On account of defect, something is unknown to

us that reaches to the future: because it does not
yet have the truth determined.

Propter excessum est nobis ignota divina

substantia, et quae excedunt capacitatem
nostram. Utraque autem fuerunt revelata
David per spiritum prophetiae. Amos 3.

On account of excess is unknown to us the

divine substance and that which exceeds our
capacity. Nevertheless, both had been revealed
to David through the spirit of prophecy. Amos 3:

confessio,

"Non facit Dominus Deus verbum, nisi

revelaverit secretum suum ad servos
suos prophetas."

"The Lord God doth nothing without revealing

his secret to his servants the prophets."

Incerta ergo manifestasti mihi, idest illa

quae de sui natura habent variabilitatem;
et haec fuerunt sibi revelata; ut patet in
Psalmo. Occulta vocantur quae excedunt
oculum mentis naturae. Iob 28.
"Sapientia trahitur de occultis." Eccli. 24.
"Ego in altissimis habitavi, et thronus
meus in columna nubis."

Therefore, The uncertain things thou hast made

manifest to me, that is, those things which of
their nature have changeableness; and they
have been revealed to him, as is clear in the
Psalm. Those things are called hidden that go
beyond the eye of the mind of nature. Job 28:
"Wisdom is drawn out of secret places." Eccli.
24: "I dwell in the highest places, and my throne
is in a pillar of a cloud."

Et haec subsunt sapientiae Dei; quasi

dicat: Licet nobis sint occulta, tamen a
sapientia tua comprehenduntur; et inter
occulta
commemorat
mysterium
incarnationis, quod etiam manifestasti
mihi.

And these things lie concealed in the wisdom of

God; as if he were saying: It is allowed that they
be hidden from us, yet they are comprehended
by your wisdom; and among the hidden things
he recounts the mystery of the incarnation,
which, furthermore, thou hast made manifest to
me.

Item misericordia
Dei
inter ista
annumeratur, quia remittit peccata. Sed
melius est ut accipiatur universaliter.
Modus revelationis ponitur cum dicit,
Manifestasti mihi.

Also the mercy of God is reckoned among those

things because it removes sins. But it is better
that it should be received all together. The
manner of revelation is set forth when he says,
Thou hast made manifest to me.

Triplex est modus prophetiae. Unus in

quo
revelatur
supernaturalis,
et
intelligibilis veritas sub similitudinibus
corporalibus, et imaginationibus, et sic
dicitur Isa. 6. "Vidi Dominum sedentem
super thronum excelsum et elevatum."
Alius
est
in
quo
fit
revelatio
supernaturalis, et intelligibilis veritatis,
absque
nebula
imagintionis
phantasticae, immo nondum revelatur et
sic facta est revelatio Moysi Num. 12.
"Palam, et non per aenigmata, et figuras
vidit Deum."

The manner of prophecy is three-fold. One, in

which supernatural and understandable truth is
revealed, under corporal likenesses and fancies,
and thus it is said in Isaiah 6: "I saw the Lord
sitting upon a throne high and elevated."
Another, in which is made a revelation of
supernatural and understandable truth, without a
cloud of imaginary fancy indeed it is not yet
revealed, and thus was made the revelation to
Moses in Numbers 12: "Plainly, and not by
riddles and figures doth he see the Lord."

Et talis etiam fuit revelatio David II Reg.

23. "Deus Israel locutus est mihi." Et
infra: "Sicut lux aurorae mane oriente
sole absque nubibus rutilat."

And of such a kind was the revelation to David in

II Kings 23: "The God of Israel siad to me." And
below: "As the light of the morning when the sun
riseth shineth in the morning without clouds."

Asperges
me
hyssopo.
Supra
commemoravit Psalmista Dei beneficium
sibi praestitum quantum ad gratiam
prophetiae, ex quo consuregebat in
spem; hic autem ostendit quid a Deo
sperabat. Et fuerunt duo: primo enim
sperat remotionem malorum quae
incurrerat per peccatum; secundo sperat
restitutionem bonorum, quae amiserat,
ibi, Auditui.

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop. Above, the

Psalmist remembered God's excellent kindness
to him with respect to the grace of prophecy,
from which he rose in hope; here, however, he
shows what he was hoping for from God. And
there were two things: first, he hopes for the
removal of the evils that he had incurred through
sin; second, he hopes for the restitution of the
good things that he had lost, where he says, To
my hearing.

Sciendum est autem, quod homo per

peccatum primo incurrit immunditiam.
Hier. 1. "Maculata es in iniquitate tua."
Secundo incurrit turpitudinem. Unde Tre.
4. "Denigrata est super carbones facies
eorum." Et haec duo sperat a se
removeri; immunditiam, scilicet, et
turpitudinem spiritualem.

For it must be known that man, through sin, first

incurs uncleanness. Jer. 1. "You have been
stained in your iniquity." Secondly, he incurs
disgrace. Whence, Lamentations 4: "Their face
is made blacker than coals." And he hopes that
these two things are removed from himself:
uncleanness, namely, and spiritual disgrace.

Immunditia contingit ex hoc quod affectus

hominis inhaeret rebus temporalibus,
quibus similis efficitur: unde si adiungatur
vilioribus, ut aurum plumbo, vilis efficitur.
Os. 9. "Facti sunt abominabiles sicut ea
quae dilexerunt."

Uncleanness happens out of that, for man's

desire inheres in temporal things, to which it is
made similar: whence if it be added to baser
things, as gold to lead, it is made base. Hosea 9:
"They become abominable, as those were,
which they loved."

Sed turpitudo ex eo quod inhaeret rebus

terrenis, quibus obscuratur in eo lux
rationis, quia comparatur animalibus
brutis. Ps. 48. Homo cum in honore esset
non intellexit, comparatus est iumentis
insipientibus, et similis factus est illis.

But digrace happens out of this that it inheres in

earthly things by which is obscured in it the light
of reason, because it is compared to brute
beasts. Psalm 48: And man when he was in
honour did not understand; he is compared to
senseless beasts, and is become like to them.

Et ideo anima efficitur nigra, sive

obscura: et ideo quantum ad primum
dicit: Asperges me hyssopo: ubi alludit
ritui veteris testamenti. Num. 19. ubit
tertio die aspergebatur immundus aqua
lustrationis, et die septimo lavabatur
aqua, et vestimenta etiam lavabantur;
aqua lustrationis fiebat de hyssopo.

And therefore the soul is made black, or dark:

and therefore as to the first he says: Thou shalt
sprinkle me with hyssop: where he alludes to the
rite of the Old Testament. Numbers 19 where on
the third day an unclean person would be
sprinkled with the water of purification, and on
the seventh day he would be washed with water
and his garments likewise would be washed; it
would be done with water of purification.

Et ideo dicit: Asperges me hyssopo. Et

illa aqua fiebat ex cinere vitulae rufae,
per quam figurabatur Christus. Unde per
illam aspersionem quam petit signatur
aspersio sanguinis Christi. I Pet. 1. "In

And therefore he says: Thous sahlt sprinkle me

with hyssop. And that water is made from the
ash of a ruddy calf, through which was figured
Christ. Whence through that sprinkling that he
desires is signified a sprinkling of the blood of

aspersionem sanguinis Christi." Heb. 12.

"Accessistis ad montem." Et infra: "Et
sanguinis
aspersionem
melius
loquentem quam Abel."

Christ. I Peter 1: "Unto sprinkling of the blood of

Christ." Hebrews 12: "You are come to mount
(Sion)." And below: "And to the sprinkling of
blood which speaketh better than that of Abel."

Hoc fiebat cum hyssop. Hyssopus est

herba quae terrae inhaeret, et curat
inflationem, ut in Glossa dicitur: et
convenit fidei quae humilitatem habet:
quia per fidem subiicitur intellectus Deo.
II Cor. 10. "In captivitatem redigentes
omnem intellectum in obsequium Christi."

This was done with hyssop. Hyssop is a plant

which cleaves to the earth and cures swelling,
as it is said in the Gloss: and it suits a fiath that
has humility: for through faith the understanding
is subjected to God. II Corinthians 10: "Bringing
into captivity every understanding unto the
obedience of Christ."

Item radicata est in petra, id est Christo.

Matth. 16. "Super hanc petram aedificabo
Ecclesiam meam." Petra autem erat
Christus; II Cor. 10. "Item depellit spiritus
humani elationem, quae est in illis qui
non obediunt fidei Christi." I Tim. ult. "Si
quis aliter docet, et non acquiescit sanis
sermonibus
Domini
nostri
Iesu
Christi...hic non est eius." (Rom. 8). Dicit
ergo: Domine, ego habeo firmam spem,
quod tu asperges me aqua lustrationis.
Ezech. 36. "Effundam super vos aquam
mundam; et mundabimini ab omnibus
inquinamentis vestris."

Also it is rooted in rock, that is, in Christ.

Matthew 16: "Upon this rock I will build my
Church." The rock is Christ; II Corinthians 10:
"Also it drives away the pride of human spirit,
which is in those who do not hearken to the faith
of Christ." I Timothy 6: "If any man teach
otherwise, and consent not to the sound words
of our Lord Jesus Christ...he is none of this."
(Romans 8). He therefore says: O Lord, I have a
firm hope that you will sprinkle me with the water
of purification. Ezechial 36: "I will pour upon you
clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all
your filthiness."

Lavabis me. Nam post fidem necessarius

est baptismus. Zach. 13. "Erit fons patens
domui Jacob in ablutionem peccatoris, et
menstruatae." Is. 1. "Lavamini, mundi
estote."
Effectus
huius
lavationis:
Dealbabor super nivem, quia nigredo
tolletur; et hoc scilicet, quia anima erit
albior nive. Is. 1. "Si fuerint peccata
vestra
ut
coccinum,
quasi
nix
dealbabuntur."

Thou shalt wash me. For after faith, baptism is

necessary. Zach. 13: "There shall be a fountain
open to the house of Jacob for the washing of
the sinner, and of the unclean woman." Isaiah 1:
"Wash yourselves, be clean." The effect of this
washing" I shall be made whiter than snow; for
blackness will be taken away and this namely
because my soul will be whiter than snow.
Isaiah 1: "If your sins be as scarlet, they shall be
made as white as snow."

Et
dicit, Super nivem, quia candor
animae sanctificatae excedit omnem
pulchritutidnem corporalem, ut patet
Matth. 17. in transfiguratione Christi,
cuius "vestimenta facta sunt alba sicut
nix." Omnes iusti pertinet ad vestimenta
Christi. Is. 49. "Omnibus his quasi
vestimento vestieris." Et per hoc designat

And he says, Than snow, because the brilliance

of the soul made holy surpasses all corporeal
beauty, as is evident in Matthew 17, on the
Transfiguration of Christ whose "garments
became white as snow." It applies all the just to
the garments of Christ. Isaiah 49: "Thou shalt be
clothed with all these as with an ormament." And
through this he points out that he relates to the

se ad vestimentum Christi pertinere per

baptismum. "Quotquot baptizati estis,
Christum induistis" dicit Apostolus Gal. 3.
e. Audisti. Hic ponit quomodo habgeet
spem de recuperatione bonorum quae
perdiderat: et sunt duo, scilicet donum
prophetiae, et gaudium conscientiae.
Donum prophetiae assimilatur auditui,
quia propheta non videt Dei essentiam, ut
in ea videat revelata; sed quaedam signa
veritatis revelatae fiunt in anima
prophetae; et haec signa habent se per
modum locutionis et etc. I Reg. 3.
"Loquere, Domine, quia audit servus
tuus." Isa. 21. "Quae audivi a Domino
exercituum Deo Israel, annuntiavi vobis."
Hic auditus erat ei interruptus per
peccatum, et sperat se recuperaturum; et
ideo dicit: Auditui meo dabis gaudium, et
laetitiam.

garment of Christ through baptism. "As maany

as have been baptized, have put on Christ" says
the Apostle in Galations 3.
To my hearing. Here he sets forth how he has
hope about the recovery of the good things he
had lost: and they are two, namely, the gift of
prophecy and joy of conscience. The gift of
prophecy is likened to hearing, for the prophet
does not see the essence of God, that he might
see in it revealed things; but certain signs of
revealed truth are had in the soul of a prophet by
way of speaking, and so forth. I Kings 3. "Speak,
Lord, for thy servant heareth." Isaias 21. "That
which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God
of Israel, I have declared unto you." This hearing
was interrupted for him through sin and he
hopes that he will recover it and therefore he
says: To my hearing thou shalt give joy and
gladness.

V e l , auditui, quo audivi a Nathan

translatum esse peccatum meum, quo
concepi laetitiam.

Or, To my hearing, by which I heard from Nathan

that my sin had been removed, by which I
conceived gladness.

Sed quantum ad gaudium conscientiae

sciendum est quod spirituale gaudium
habet tres gradus. Primus existit in
complacentia affectus; secundus in
dilatatione cordis; tertius in progressu ad
exteriora.

As for joy of conscience, it must be known that

spiritual joy has three steps. The first is manifest
in the conciliation of desire; the second in the
enlarging of the heart; the third in advancing to
outward things.

Complacentia designatur per gaudium,

cum dicit: Auditui meo dabis gaudium; ex
hoc scilicet quod audiam quae loqueris,
vel quae locutus est nathan. Philip. 4.
"Gaudete in Domino semper; iterum dico,
gaudete." Quando vero affectus quiescit
in re amata, tunc animus eius dilatatur ad
plus percipiendum dilatationem; et hoc
etiam apparet in sensibilibus. II Cor. 6.
"Cor nostrum dilatatum est."

Conciliation is designated by joy, when he says:

To my hearing thou shalt give joy; from this
namely that I may hear what you say, or what
Nathan said. Philippians 4. "Rejoice in the Lord
always; again, I say rejoice." surely when
desires reposes in the thing loved then his soul
is enlarged to attain further enlarging; and this
appears in perceptible things. II Cor. 6. "Our
heart is enlarged."

Et ideo dicit laetitiam; quae hic importat

dilatationem, quasi latitiam. Sed ulterius
quandoque est quod laetitia redundat
usque ad corpus. Prov. 17. "Animus
gaudens aetatem floridam facit; spiritus

And therefore he say gladness, which here

conveys enlargement, as if it were breadth. But
when it is beyond this that gladness abounds
even to the body. Proverbs 17. "A joyful mind
maketh age flourishing; a sorrowful spirit drieth

tristis exsiccat ossa."

up the bones."

Et ideo in visione gloriae in patria post

resurrectionem ex gaudio mentis corpus
glorificabitur. Isa. ult. "Videbitis, et
gaudebit cor vestrum, et ossa vestra
quasi herbs germinabunt." Et sic dicit
ipse: Exultabunt ossa humiliata; et hoc ad
glorificationem praesentem.

And therefore in a vision of glory in the land after

the resurrection, from joy of mind the body will
be glorified. Isaias 66. "You shall see and your
heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish
like an herb." And so he himself says: The
bones that have been humbled shall rejoice; and
this for immediate glorification.

Nam per tristitiam poenitentiae cor

hominis conteritur; et ideo quando sunt
homines laeti, est signum quod ossa,
quae sunt contrita, et afflicta, participant
gaudium. Prov. 12. "Maeror in corde viri
humiliabit eum." Isa. 58. "Implebit
splendoribus animal tuam, et ossa tua
liberabit."

For through the sorrow of repentance the heart of

man is crushed; and therefore when men are
glad, it is a sign that their bones which are
sorrowful and suffering share joy. Proverbs 12.
"Grief in the heart of a man shall bring him low."
Isaias 58. "He will fill thy soul with brightness,
and deliver they bones."

V e l exultabunt
ossa, ides virtutes
spirituales, quae per laetitiam spiritualem
augmentantur, et quia per hanc laetitiam
roboratur iustus.

O r , The bones shall rejoice, that is spiritual

powers, which are increased through spiritual
gladness, and because, through this gladness, a
just man is made strong.

f. Averte. Hic petit recuperationem

innocentiae: et quia considerat in se
malum culpae esse, et bonum gratiae;
petit primo removeri malum, sive
peccatum; secundo petit removeri
effectum peccati, ibi, Cor mundum crea in
me, Deus. Peccatum enim removetur non
hoc modo quod peccatum non fuerit, sed
quod non imputetur ei peccatum
commissum ad poenam, secundum illud
Psalm. 31. Beatus vir cui non imputavit
Dominus peccatum. Et loquitur ad
similitudinem iudicis punientis, qui primo
considerat quantitatem culpae, et postea
taxat poenam; et ideo petit ut non
consideret peccatum eius, sed fit
immemor eius; et ideo dicit: Averte faciem
tuam a peccatis meis.

Turn away. Here he seeks for recovery of

innocence: and because he regards in himself
that there is the evil of guilt and the good of
grace, he asks first that the evil, or sin, be
removed; second he asks that the effect of sin be
removed, Create a clean heart in me, O God. For
sin is not removed in this way, as if there had not
been sin, but as if committed sin might not be
imputed to him for punishment, according to
Psalm 31. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord
hath not imputed sin. And he speaks according
to the parable of the punishing judge who first
reckons the amount of guilt, and afterward
assesses the penalty; and therefore he asks that
he not regard his sin, but that he become
forgetful of it; and therefore he says, Turn away
thy face from my sins.

Secundo petit ut non inferatur poena,

unde dicit: Et omnes iniquitates meas
dele; quasi dicat: scio quod malum coram
te feci; et ideo rogo ut avertas faciem
tuam a peccatis meis, idest non

Secondly he asks that punishment not be

inflicted, whence he says, And blot out all my
iniquities; as if he were saying: I know that I have
done evil before you; and therefore I ask that you
turn away your face from my sins, that is that you

consideres peccata mea ad puniendum.

Ezech. 18. "Omnium iniquitatum eius non
recordabor."

regard not my sins for punishment. Ezech. 18. "I

will not remember all his iniquities."

Item merui poenam damnationis; sed

rogo ut deleas, quia Deus etsi non mutat
consilium, tamen sententiam mutat: Cor
mundum.

Just so have I deserved the penalty of

damnation; but I ask that you blot it out, for even
if God does not change plan, nevertheless he
changes sentence: A clean heart.

Supra Psalmus petiit removeri peccatum;

hic autem petit removeri effectus peccati,
qui sunt duo; scilicet inquinatio animae,
et inordinatio affectus. Primus effectus fit
per hoc quod homo afficitur ad terrena:
unde petit cordis munditiam. Matth. 5.
"Beati mundo corde, quoniam ipsi Deum
videbunt."

Above, the Psalm sought that sin be removed;

here, however, it asks that the effects of sin be
removed, and they are two; namely pollution of
soul and disorder of desire. The first effect
happens through this, that man is attached to
earthly things: whence he seeks cleanliness of
heart. Matthew 5. "Blessed are the clean of
heart: for they shall see God."

Et ideo dicit: Cor mundum crea in me,

Deus, et spiritum rectum. Istam
munditiam cordis solus Deus restituere
potest. Iob 14. "quis potest facere
mundum de immundo conceptum
semine? Nonne tu qui solus es?" scilicet
mundus simpliciter.

And therefore he says: Create a clean heart in

me, O God, and a right spirit. This cleanliness of
heart God only is able to reestablish. Job 14.
"Who can make him clean that is conceived of
unclean seed? is it not thou who only art?" that
is to say, clean simply.

Et dicit, Crea. Creatur aliquid ad esse

naturae, quando ex nihilo producitur ad
esse. Gen. 1. "In principio creavit Deus
caelum, et terram."

And he says, Create. Something is created

according to the being of nature when it is
brought forth to being from nothing. Genesis 1.
"In the beginning God created heaven and
earth."

Item quando ad esse gratiae producitur. I

Cor. 13. "Si habuero prophetiam, et
noverim mysteria omnia...nihil sum," in
esse gratiae. Sed quando Deus operatur
operatione gratiae in habente gratiam,
dicitur magnificare eum; quando vero de
peccatore facit iustum, tunc dicitur proprie
creare. Eph. 2. "Ipsius creatura sumus,
creati in Christo Iesu in operibus bonis."
Iaco. 1. "Ut sitis initium aliquod creaturae
Dei," scilicet spiritualis eius.

Likewise when it is brought forth to the being of

grace. I Cor. 13. "If I should have prophecy and
should know all mysteries...I am nothing" in the
being of grace. But when God operates by the
operation of grace in one having grace, he is
said to magnify him; but when he makes a just
man from a sinner, then he is said properly to
create. Eph. 2. "For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus in good works." James 1.
"That you might be some beginning of God's
creature," that is, a spiritual one.

Secundum quod sequitur ex peccato, est

inordinatio
mentis, quae
fit per
aversionem a fine debito. Sicut ergo per

According to what follows from sin, there is a

disorder of the mind that happens through
turning away from its due end. So, therefore,

conversionem ad aliquod commutabile

bonum animus efficitur immundus, ita per
aversione a fine deordinatur; et
huiusmodi
deordinationi
opponitur
rectitudo qua homo dirigitur in Deum. I
Cant. 1. "Recti diligunt te." Et ideo dicit:
Et spiritum rectum innova; idest, de novo
tribuas, quia per peccatum amisi. Ephes.
4. "Renovamini spiritu mentis vestrae." Et
innova non exterius, sed in visceribus
meis, ut scilicet non labia tantum ad
loquendum, sed cor fit rectum ad
cognoscendum.

through turning to some changeable good the

spirit is made unclean. Thus it is disordered
through turning from its end; and of such kind is
righteousness opposed to disorder whereby
man is directed to God. Canticle 1. "The
righteous love thee." And therefore he says: And
renew a right spirit; that is, that you grant it anew
for I have lost it through sin. Ephesians 4. "Be
renewed in the spirit of your mind." And renew
not outwardly but within my bowels so that ,
namely, not only may the lips be made right for
speaking, but the heart be made right for
perceiving.

Ne proiicias me a facie tua, et spiritum

sanctum tuum ne auferas a me. Hic petit
restitutionem gratiae: et primo petit ipsam
gratiam, secundo petit gratiae effectum,
i b i , R e d d e . Gratiam Dei dicitur quis
habere dupliciter. Nam aliquis dicitur
habere gratiam Dei, et hominis, et
quantum ad aliquid similiter, scilicet
quando est utrique gratus, scilicet Deo, et
homini.

Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy
holy spirit from me. Here he asks for the
restoration of grace: and first he asks for grace
itself, second he asks for the effect of grace,
where he says, Restore. One is said to have the
grace of God on two accounts. Now, one is said
to have the grace of God and of man, and
similarly, as far as anything is concerned, that is,
when he is pleasing to both, namely to God and
to man.

Et haec vocatur gratia gratum faciens.

Ephes. 1. "In qua gratificavit nos in
dilecto filio suo.' Et secundum hoc gratia
dicitur benevolentia Dei, qua Deus diligit
hominem ad vitam aeternam. Et quantum
ad aliquid est dissimile. Gratia enim
hominis non facit eum bonum, sed ex sua
bonitate efficitur gratus homini; sed apud
Deum est e converso: quia ex Dei
benevolentia sequitur quod homo fiat
bonus. Duo ergo sunt in gratia Dei;
scilicet ipsa benevolentia, et effectus eius
in anima; et utrumque petit cum dicit: Ne
proiicias me a facie tua; et spiritum
sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.

And this grace is called making pleasing. Ephes.

1. "In which he hath graced us in his beloved
son." And according to this, grace is declared
the benevolence of God, by which God loves
man unto eternal life. And as far as anything is
concerned, it is dissimilar. For the grace of man
does not make him good, but out of its goodness
one is made pleasing to man; but with God, it is
in a contrary manner: for from the benevolence
of God it follows that man should be made good.
Therefore there are two things in the grace of
God; namely, benevolence itself and its effects
on the soul; and he asks for both when he says:
Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy
holy spirit from me.

Et hoc potest dupliciter intelligi. Ille qui

est in facie alicuius, videtur ab eo, et
potest illum videre. Iste dicitur esse in
facie Dei secundum illud III Reg. 17.
"Vivit Dominus, in cuius conspectu sto."
Genes. 32. "Deus, in cuius conspectu
ambulaverunt patres nostri." Et hoc quia

And this can be understood in a double sense.

He who is in the face of someone is seen by
him, and can see him. That one is said to be in
the face of God according to III Kings 17. "As the
Lord liveth, in whose sight I stand." Genesis 32.
"God, in whose sight our fathers walked." And
this because they are upright to see God. Psalm

ipsi recti sunt ad videndum Deum. Psalm.

26. Unam petii a Domino, hanc requiram,
ut inhabitem in domo Domini omnibus
diebus vitae meae.

26. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I

seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the
Lord all the days of my life.

Per peccatum utrumque perditur; quia

peccatores deserunt Deum, deseruntur a
Deo, et amittunt fiduciam confidendi de
Deo. Esa. 59. "Peccata, et iniquitates
diviserunt inter vos et Deum vestrum
(quantum ad primum) et peccata vestra
absconderunt faciem eius a vobis;"
quantum ad secundum. Iste est ergo a
facie Dei per peccatum proiectus; et ideo
petit ne finaliter proiiciatur utroque modo.

Through each sin one is lost; for sinners forsake

God, are forsaken by God, and disperse the trust
of confidence in God. Isaias 59. "Your sins and
iniquities have divided between you and your
God (so far as concerns the first) and your sins
have hid his face from you;" as far as concerns
the second. That one, therefore, is cast away
from the face of God through sin; and therefore
he asks that he not be finally cast away in both
ways.

Item nota, quod in homine duo sunt;

scilicet culpa, ex qua dignus est poena,
et natura, ex qua habet congruitatem ad
gratiam: et ideo petit ut non prospiciat
culpam, sed naturam, et ideo dicit, Ne
proiicias me.

Likewise note that there are in men two things;

namely guilt, from which he is worthy of
punishment, and nature from which he has a
fitness for grace: and therefore he asks that he
look not at his guilt but his nature; and therefore
he says, Cast me not away.

Item donum gratiae datur per caritatem, et

tale donum datur per Spiritum sanctum; et
ideo dicit: Et spiritum sanctum tuum ne
auferas a me; cuius templum fueram, sed
perdidi propter peccatum. Sap. 1.
"Spiritus sanctus disciplinae effugiet
fictum." Ne ergo auferas, scilicet finaliter.

Likewise, the gift of grace is given through

charity, and such a gift is given through the Holy
Spirit; and thus he says: And take not thy holy
spirit from me; whose temple I was, but lost on
account of sin. Wisdom 1. "The Holy Spirit of
discipline will flee from the deceitful." Take not
away, therefore, that is, finally.

Redde mihi. Nam duo facit gratia in

homine. Unum respectu superiorum: quia
scilicet dat iucunditatem, quia qui habet
gratiam, habet caritatem; et qui habet
caritatem, amat Deum, et habet ipsum; et
qui habet quod amat, gaudet. Ergo ubi
caritas ibi gaudium. Rom. 14. "Non est
Regnum Dei esca, et potus, sed gaudium
in Spiritu sancto." Hoc gaudium
perdiderat Psalmista; et ideo petit restitui
sibi, cum dicit: Redde mihi laetitiam, non
de mundanis, sed salutaris tui, idest de
tua salvatione.

Restore unto me. For grace does two things in a

man. One in respect of higher things: that,
namely, it gives cheerfulness, for he who has
grace has charity; and he who has charity loves
God, and possesses him; and he who has what
he loves, rejoices. Therefore, where charity is,
there is joy. Romans 14. "The kingdom of God is
not meat and drink; but joy in the Holy Ghost."
The Psalmist had lost this joy; and therefore he
asks that it be restored to him, when he says:
Restore unto me the joy, not of worldly things,
but of thy salvation, that is, of your act of saving.

Alia litera habet, Laetitiam Iesu, scilicet

salvatoris, per quem fit remissio
peccatorum. Habac. ult. "Exultabo in Deo

Another text has The joy of Jesus, that is, the

Saviour, through whom is effected the
forgiveness of sins. Habacuc 3. "I will joy in God

Iesu meo."

my Jesus."

Alius effectus est respectu inferiorum; et

hic effectus est confirmatio in gratia, quae
fit per Spiritum sanctum: Et spiritu
principali confirma me.

The other effect is in respect of lower things; and

this effect is confirmation in grace, which is done
through the Holy Spirit: And strengthen me with
a perfect spirit.

Spiritus autem sanctus firmat dupliciter.

Uno modo contra mala: Esa. 8. "In forti
manu erudivi te:" alio modo in bono. Esa.
40. "Qui sperant in Domino mutabunt
fortitudinem." Haec fortitudo habetur per
Spiritum. Nam corpus non est firmum,
nec ad faciendum nisi propter fortidinem
spirituum: ita homo non est fortis sine
Spiritu sancto. Sed ille non praeberet
fortitudinem nisi esset spiritus principalis,
quia virtus inferior non est sufficiens ad
praebendum auxilium contra superiorem.
Potestas autem diaboli est magna. Iob.
41. "Non est potestas super terram quae
comparetur ei." Ergo contra diabolum
indiget homo iuvari spiritu principali,
scilicet principante et dominante super
omnia. Et hoc spiritu indidet homo contra
spiritum carnis. Num. 16. Fortissime
Deus spirituum universae carnis."

But the Holy Spirit makes strong in a two fold

way. In one way, against evil things. Isaias 8. "I
have taught thee with a strong arm:" in another
way in the good. Isaias 40. "They that hope in
the Lord shall renew their strength." This
strength is had through the Spirit. For the body is
not strong except on account of the strength of
spirits; so man is not strong without the Holy
Spirit. But it would not have shown strength
except it were a perfect spirit, for a lower power
is not enough to show help against a higher. For
the power of the devil is great. Job 41. "There is
no power upon earth that can be compared with
him." Therefore against the devil man needs to
be helped by a perfect spirit, that is, one ruling
and prevailing over all things. And man is
needful of this spirit against the spirit of the flesh.
Num. 16. "O most mighty, the God of the spirits
of all flesh."

Item contra spiritum mundi. I Cor. 2. "Nos

autem non spiritum huius mundi
accepimus, sed spiritum qui est ex Deo."
Item conspiritum diaboli. I. Reg. 18.
"Invasit spiritus Domini malus Saul."
Notandum est, quod in hac lectione fit
triplex mentio de spiritu: quia dicitur
spiritus rectus, spiritus sanctus, et spiritus
principalis. Et secundum Glos. quidam
accipiunt spiritum essentialiter dictum,
secundum quod est spiritus omne quod
non est corpus. Unde spiritus dicitur
Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus sanctus; sed
melius est ut accipiatur personaliter. Tria
autem facit Spiritus sanctus in homine.

Also against the spirit of the world. I Cor. 2. "Now

we have received not the spirit of this world, but
the spirit that is of God." Also, against the spirit of
the devil. I Kings 18. "The evil spirit from the
Lord came upon Saul." It must be noted that in
this reading there is made a triple mention of
spirit: it is called a right spirit, a holy spirit and a
perfect spirit. And according to the Gloss, certain
persons receive what is called essentially spirit,
according to which all that is not body is spirit.
Whence spirit is called Father, and Son, and
Holy Spirit; but it is better that it be received
personally. For the Holy Spirit causes three
things in man.

Primo rectitudinem intentionis. Psal. 142.

Spiritus bonus deducet me in terram
rectam. Item sanctificat nos. Rom. 1.
"Secundum spiritum sanctificationis."

First, rectitude of purpose. Psalm 142. Thy good

spirit shall lead me into the right land. Also, it
sanctifies us. Romans 1. ''According to the spirit
of sanctification." Also, it makes us illustrious

Item nobilitat, et tacit nos principes. Gal.

4. "Quoniam estis filii Dei, misit Deus
spiritum filii sui in corda vestra."

and makes us princes. Galatians 4. "Because

you are sons of God, God hath sent the Spirit of
his Son into your hearts."

g. Docebo. Supra Psalmista proposuit

suas petitiones Deo; hic autem repromittit
recompensationem: et primo promittit
quid fit facturus pro Deo in praesenti;
secundo in futuro, ibi, Benigne. Circa
primum duo facit. Primo promittit Deo
quaedam spiritualia sacrificia; secundo
excusat se ab oblatione carnalium, ibi,
Quoniam si voluisses. Duplex sacrificium
spirituale Deo promittit; scilicet doctrinae
per quod instruatur proximus; secundo
promittit spirituale sacrificium laudis, per
quod laudetur Deus, ibi, Libera me.

I will teach. Above, the Psalmist set forth his

petitions to God; here, however, he promises
again a making-up: and first he promises what it
happens he is about to do for God in the present;
secondly, in the future, where he says,
Favourably. About the first he does two things.
First he promises to God certain spiritual
sacrifices; second, he excuses himself from the
offering of meats, where he says, For if thou
hadst desired. He promises to God a twofold
spiritual sacrifice; namely, of instruction, through
which his neighbour is taught; secondly he
promises the spiritual sacrifice of praise, through
which God is praised, where he says, Deliver
me.

Dicit ergo: Docebo iniquos vias tuas. Et

notandum, quod supra in alio Psalmo
dixit (49) Peccatori dixit Deus: Quare tu
enarras iustitias meas, et assumis nomen
meum per os tuum? Per quod ostendit
quod peccatorem non decet doctrinam
effundere.

He therefore says, I will teach the unjust thy

ways. And it is to be noted what he said above in
another Psalm (49) To the sinner God hath said:
Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my
name in thy mouth? Through which he shows
that it is not proper for a sinner to pour forth
instruction.

Et ideo quamdiu sensit se peccatorem,

non promisit doctrinam manifestare; sed
postquam restituit ei Deus spiritum
principalem: et tales decet doctrinam
habere, et alios docere. Hier. 3. "Dabo
vobis pastorem iuxta cor meum, qui
pascet vos scientia, et doctrina."

And as long as he felt himself a sinner, he did

not promise to make instruction known; but after
God restored to him a perfect spirit: it is fitting
both that such have instruction and also instruct
others. Jeremias 3. "I will give you a pastor
according to my own heart, and he shall feed
you with knowledge and doctrine."

Et de Christo dicitur Acto. 1. 'Coepit Iesus

facere, & (postea) docere." Fructus autem
huius doctrinae non est tantum speculatio
veritatis ad beatam contemplationem, sed
intentus finis eius est conversio
peccatorum: et ideo dicit: Et impii ad te
convertentur.
Hierem.
15
"Ipsi
convertentur ad te, et tu non converteris
ad eos." Psalm. 21. Convertentur ad
Dominum omnes gentes. Et secundum
Glo. eosdem dicit impios, et iniquos,
quamvis David intelligat quod iniqui

And it is said of Christ in Acts 1. "Jesus began to

do and (afterward) to teach." But the fruit of this
instruction is not only observation of the truth
towards blessed contemplation, but its extended
end is the conversion of sinners: and therefore
he says: And the wicked shall be converted to
thee. Jeremias 15. "They shall be turned to thee,
and thou shalt not be turned to them." Psalm 21.
All the Gentiles shall be converted to the Lord.
And according to the Gloss, he calls the same
wicked and unjust, howevermuch David
understands that they are called unjust who sin

dicuntur qui peccant contra Deum; et ideo

signanter dicit, Docebo iniquos, quasi
dicat: Aliqui etsi revereantur Deum,
tamen operantur contra proximum, et
iniusta; et hos docebo vias tuas, scilicet
ut non offendant proximum. Pr. Ioan. 4.
"Mandatum habemus a Deo ut qui diligit
Deum, diligat et fratrem suum."

against God; and therefore he significantly says,

I will teach the unjust, as if he were saying:
Although some revere God, yet they do produce
things against their neighbour; and to these I will
teach your ways, that is, so they offend not their
neighbour. I John 4. "And this commandment we
have from God, that he who loveth God, love
also his brother."

Libera me de sanguinibus. Hic promittit

sacrificium
laudis;
et
sunt
duo
impedimenta huius sacrificii. Unum est
reatus peccati; aliud est interior defectus.
Primo ergo petit remotionem primi
impedimenti; secundo petit remotionem
secundi, ibi, Domine, labia mea aperies.
Petit ergo remotionem impedimenti, et
promittit
sacrificium
laudis.
Impedimentum laudis divinae, sicut
dictum est, est reatus culpae. Eccl. 15.
"Non est speciosa laus in ore peccatoris."

Deliver me from blood. Here he promises a

sacrifice of praise; and there are two obstacles to
this sacrifice. One is the guilt of sin; the other is
an inner failing. First, therefore, he asks for the
removal of the first obstacle; secondly, he seeks
the removal of the second, where he says, O
Lord, thou wilt open my lips. He seeks therefore
the removal of the obstacle, and promises a
sacrifice of praise. The obstacle to divine praise,
as was said, is the guilt of sin. Eccles. 15.
"Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner."

David autem erat gravi culpa reus; et ideo

petit liberari ab ea et ideo dicit: Libera me
de sanguinibus. Secundum Glo. hoc
nomen sanguis non declinatur in plurali
numero; tamen translator voluit uti ad
expressionem peccati; et refertur hoc ad
concupiscentiam carnis quae est caro et
sanguis. Matt. 16. "Caro et sanguis non
revelavit tibi; sed Pater meus qui est in
caelis." Quasi dicat: Libera me de
peccatis commissis de carne et
sanguine.

Now David was guilty of serious sin; and

therefore he asks to be liberated from it and
therefore says: Deliver me from blood. According
to the Gloss, the noun blood is not declined in
the plural number; nevertheless the translator
wished to use it for an expression of sin; and this
refers to concupiscence of the flesh, which is
flesh and blood. Matth. 16. "Flesh and blood
hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is
in heaven." As if he were saying: Deliver me
from sins that have been committed from flesh
and blood.

Vel dicendum, quod David commiserat

culpam adulterii, et homicidii; et in
utroque est sanguis: quia in homicidio
sanguis
effunditur.
Ps.
5. Virum
sanguinum, et dolosum abominabitur
Dominus. Adulterium autem procedit ex
fervore sanguinis; et ideo dicit. De
s a n g u i n i b u s . Oseae
4.
"Sanguis
sanguinem tetigit." O Deus, libera ergo
me de sanguinibus, quia solus potes. Isa.
43. "Ego sum qui deleo iniquitates tuas
propter me, et peccatorum tuorum non
recordabor:" et quia tu es Deus salutis

Or it must be said that David had committed the

fault of adultery and of murder; and in both there
is blood: for in murder blood is poured out.
Psalm 5. The bloody and the deceitful man the
Lord will abhor. But adultery proceeds from a
fervour of blood; and he therefore says. From
blood. Osee 4. "Blood hath touched blood." O
God, deliver me, therefore, from blood, for you
only can do it. Isaias 43. "I am he that blot out thy
iniquities for my own sake, and I will not
remember thy sins." And because you are God
of my salvation, that is, the one who can save
m e . And my tongue shall extol; that is, with

mei, idest qui potes me salvare. Et

exultabit lingua mea; idest, cum
delectatione, et cum interiori gaudio
cordis, narrabo iustitiam tuam. Isa. 30.
"Canticum
erit
vobis,
sicut
vox
sanctificatae solemnitatis." Item ibidem
(cap. 35.) "Venient in Sion laudantes, et
laetitia sempiterna super capita eorum."
Psalm. 41. "In voce exultationis, et
confessionis sonus epulantis."

delight, and with inward joy of heart, I shall

speak of your justice. Isaias 30. "You shall have
a song like the voice of the sanctified solemnity."
Likewise in the same (Ch. 35) "They shall come
into Sion with praise, and everlasting joy shall
be upon their heads." Psalm 41. "With the voice
of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting."

Domine, labia mea aperies. Est autem

sciendum,
quod
homo
aliquando
impeditur a doctrina etiam propter
impedimentum interius loquendi; et hoc
contingit aliquando propter culpam
auditorum. Ezech. 3. "Linguam tuam
adhaerere faciam palato tuo; et eris
mutus. Et infra. "Quia domus exasperans
est." Et propter proprium peccatum.
Psalm. 106. Omnis iniauitas oppilabit os
suum. Quia ergo solus Deus "linguas
infantium fecit disertas:" Sapien. 10. ideo
petit: Domine, remove impedimenta quae
incurri per peccatum, a labiis meis; et tu
Labia mea aperies. Ephe. ult. "Ut detur
mihi sermo in apertione oris mei, cum
fiducia
notum
facere
mysterium
Evangelii."

O Lord, thou wilt open my lips. But it must be

understood that man at times is prevented from
instruction also on account of the hindrance of
speaking inwardly; and this happens at times on
account of the fault of the hearers. Ezech. 3. "I
will make thy tongue stick fast to the roof of thy
mouth, and thou shalt be dumb." And below:
"Because they are a provoking house." And on
account of his particular sin. Psalm 106. All
iniquity shall stop her mouth. Because then God
only "made the tongues of infants eloquent:"
Wisdom 10. Therefore he asks: O Lord, take
away the hindrances, which I have incurred
through sin, from my lips; and thou Wilt open my
lips. Ephesians 6. "That speech may be given
me, that I may open my mouth with confidence to
make known the mystery of the gospel."

Est autem notandum, quod in apertione

oris intelligitur doctrinae profunditas,
ubicumque in Scripturis invenitur apertio
oris; ut Iob 3. "Post haec aperuit Iob os
suum." Et Matth. 5. "Aperiens Iesus os
suum,"
scilicet
in
profunditatem
Scripturae. Et tunc os meum annuntiabit
laudem tuam; quasi dicat: Quod in corde
habeo, ore confitebor.

But it must be noted that in the opening of the

mouth is understood the depth of instruction,
wherever in the Scriptures is found the opening
of the mouth; as in Job 3. "After this Job opened
his mouth." And Mattthew 5. "Opening his
mouth, Jesus." that is, in the depth of Scripture.
And then my mouth shall declare thy praise; as if
he were saying: What I hold in my heart, I shall
confess with my mouth.

h. Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium. Hic

excusat se: et primo ostendit sacrificium
non esse Deo acceptum; secundo
ostendit quod sacrificium sit Deo
acceptum, ibi, Sacrificium Deo.

For if thou hadst desired sacrifice. Here he

absolves himself: and first he shows that
sacrifice had not been accepted by God; second,
he shows that sacrifice might be accepted by
God, where he says, A sacrifice to God.

Dicit ergo: Ego repromitto doctrinam, et

laudem:
hoc
enim
sacrificium

Therefore he says: I promise again instruction

and praise: for this sacrifice will glorify you; but a

honorificabit te, sed carnale sacrificium

non est tibi acceptum. Et ideo dicit: Si
voluisses sacrificium, scilicet carnale,
utique dedissem; sed utique holocaustis
non delectaberis.

carnal sacrifice is not accepted by you. And

therefore he says: If thou hadst desired sacrifice,
that is to say, carnal; I would indeed have given;
but indeed, with burnt offerings thou wilt not be
delighted.

Sed numquid non vult sacrificia carnalia?

Si illa sacrificia non approbat Deus,
quare ergo mandavit fieri in veteri lege?

But does he not desire carnal sacrifices? If God

does not approve those sacrifices, why then in
the Old Law did he command that they be done?

Dicendum, quod mandavit ea fieri non

propter se, sed quia erant figura interioris
veri sacrificii quo Christus se obtulit; et
sunt signa interioris sacrificii, inquantum
homo animam suam offert Deo, et iterum
fuerunt instituta propter rudes, qui Deum
non noverant; et ideo oportebat quod in
rebus honorarent, et cognoscerent Deum,
ne sacrificia idolis imolarent, ad quod
erant multum proni. Sed quia David ex
Spiritu sancto sciebat cordis sacrificium
Deo acceptum, non dedit hic sacrificia
corporalia.

It must be said that he commanded that they be

done not for his sake, but because they were
figures of the inner true sacrifice whereby Christ
offered himself; and they are signs of an inner
sacrifice, inasmuch as man offers his life to God,
and again they had been ordained for the sake
of uncultured people who did not know God and
therefore it was fitting that they honour him and
learn about God, lest they render sacrifices to
idols, to which they were greatly inclined. But
because David knew from the Holy Spirit that
sacrifice of the heart was accepted by God, he
did not give bodily sacrifices.

Inter omnia autem sacrificia, holocausta

erant magis Deo accepta. Et tamen illa
propter se non erant accepta Deo; ideo
dicit: Holocaustis non delectaberis: quia
et si ipsa fuissent tibi accepta simpliciter,
obtulissem ea. Et si obiiciatur quod odor
suavissimus erant Domino; dicendum,
quod erat hoc propter figuratum
sacrificium, et in signum interioris
sacrificii, quod Deo placet. Unde subdit:
Sacrificium Deo, scilicet acceptum,
spiritus contribulatus. Aug. 10. de Civi.
Dei: "Omne sacrificium, quod offert
exterius, signum est interioris sacrificii, in
quo animam suam offert Deo."

But among all the sacrifices, holocausts were

more accepted by God. And yet those were not
accepted by God for their own sake; therefore he
s a y s : With burnt offerings thou wilt not be
delighted: for if they would have been accepted
by you purely, I would have offered them. And if
it should be proposed that they were an aroma
most pleasant to the Lord, it must be said that
this was for the sake of a symbolical sacrifice
and as a sign of inward sacrifice which is
pleasing to God. Whence he appends: A
sacrifice to God, that is, accepted, an afflicted
spirit. Augustine, in Book X of On the City of
God: "Every sacrifice that he offers outwardly is
a sign of inward sacrifice in which he offers his
soul to God."

Sed sciendum, quod anima hominis

deducitur in peccatum primo per inane
gaudium. Eccle. 2. "Risum reputavi
errorem, et gaudio dixi: Quid frustra
deciperis?" idest deduceris in peccatum.
Secundo induratur ad spiritualia ex
peccato. Eccli. 3. "Cor durum male

But it should be known that the soul of man is

led into sin first through empty mirth.
Ecclesiastes 2: "Laughter I counted error: and to
mirth I said : Why art thou vainly deceived?" that
is, led into sin. Secondly, out of sin it is hardened
to spiritual things. Eccli. 3. "A hard heart shall
fear evil at the last." Rom. 2. "According to thy

habebit in novissimo."
Rom. 2.
"Secundum duritiam tuam, et cor
impoenitens." Tertio quia sufficit sibi in
rebus corporalibus, et non curat de
spiritualibus, tunc superbit; quod "est
initium omnis peccati:" Eccli. 10. Oportet
ergo quod poenitens qui cor suum offert
sacrificium Deo, contraria omnibus his
faciat.

hardness and impenitent heart." Thirdly,

because it suffices unto itself in bodily things,
and does not attend to spiritual, then it is proud,
for "it is the beginning of all sin:" Eccli. 10.
Therefore, it is fitting that a penitent, who offers
his heart as a sacrifice to God, do the opposites
of all these things.

Et primo contra inane gaudium oportet

quod assumat tristitiam poenitentiae; et
ideo
subdit: Sacrificium Deo spiritus
contribulatus; idest, de omnibus peccatis
simul tristatur, non de uno tantum. II Cor.
7. "Quae secundum Deum est tristitia,
poenitentiam
in
salutem
stabilem
operatur." Baruch.2. "Anima quae est
tristis super magnitudinem mali, et incidit
curva: et infra dat tibi gloriam, et tristitiam
Domino."

And first, against empty mirth it is fitting that it

assume the sorrow of penitence; and therefore
he supplies: A sacrifice to God is an afflicted
spirit; that is, that it be sorrowful for all sins
together, not for one only. II Cor. 7. "The sorrow
that is according to God worketh penance,
steadfast unto salvation." Baruch 2. "The soul
that is sorrowful for greatness of evil she hath
done, and goeth bowed down and feeble, giveth
glory and sorrowfulness to thee, the Lord."

Contra secundum opponitur contritio:

unde
dicit, Cor contritum. Et nota
differentiam inter confracta et contrita:
quia confracta sunt quae dividuntur in
magnas partes; contrita sunt quae in
parvissimas partes dividuntur. Quamdiu
ergo quis habet cor durum, tunc quasi
integrum habet cor in malitia; sed quando
totaliter deserit peccatum praebens se
spiritualibus, dicitur tunc contritus. Iob 16.
"Ego ille quondam opulentus (scilicet in
temporalibus) repente contritus sum."

Against the second is opposed contrition:

whence he says, A contrite heart. And mark the
difference between shattered and ground: for
shattered are those things that are divided into
large parts; ground are those that are divided
into the smallest parts. Therefore as long as one
has a hard heart, then he has his heart as if
entirely in evil; but when he wholly forsakes sin,
yielding himself to spiritual things, then he is
called contrite. Job 16. "I that was formerly so
wealthy (that is, in temporal goods), am all on a
sudden broken to pieces."

Contra tertium opponitur humilitas; et

ideo dicit: Et humiliatum, Deus, non
despicies: quia "superbis Deus resistit;
humilibus autem dat gratiam:" Iac.4. Et
est sciendum, quod facit mentionem de
corde, et spiritu: et spiritus pertinet ad
animositatem, et sic pertinet ad
irascibilem. Isa. 25. "Spiritus robustorum
quasi turbo impellens parietem." Cor
pertinet ad concupiscibilem; et sic datur
per hoc intelligi quod quicquid est in vi
appetitiva,
debet
Deo
offerri
in
sacrificium.

To the third is opposed humility; and he

therefore says: A humbled (heart), O God, thou
wilt not despise: for "God resisteth the proud;
and giveth grace to the humble:" James 4. And it
must be understood that he makes mention of
the heart and the spirit: and the spirit relates to
impetuosity, and thus it relates to the irascible.
Isaias 25. "The blast of the mighty is like a
whirlwind beating against a wall." The heart
relates to the concupiscible; and so it is given
through this to be understood that whatever is in
the power of desire should be offered to God in
sacrifice.

i. Benigne. Hic promittit quid debeat

facere in futurum: et primo petit quid
fiendum a Deo; secundo pronuntiat, ibi,
Tunc accentabis.

Favourably. Here he promises what he ought to

do in the future: and first he seeks what must be
done by God; secondly, he declares, in the place
where he says, Then shalt thou accept.

Oculus David ferebatur ad duo. Unum

propinquum, quod erat figurale, aliud
remotum, quod erat figuratum. Primum,
quia legitur, quod David aedificavit muros
civitatis
Hierusalem,
sed
non
consummaverat; et his consummatis
aedificandum erat templum, et ideo dicit:
Fac in bona voluntate tua ut aedificentur
muri
Hierusalem. Et tunc aedificatis
muris, aedificabitur templum, et tunc
acceptabis
sacrificium
iustitiae,
oblationes, et holocausta. Et hoc totum
erat figurale.

The eye of David was carried to two things. One,

near, which was allusional, the other, remote,
which was figurative. The first, for it is read that
David built the walls of the city of Jerusalem, but
he had not completed them; and after they had
been completed, the temple was to be built, and
he therefore says: Deal in thy good will that the
walls of Jerusalem may be built up. And then
when the walls have been built, the temple will
be built; and then shalt thou accept the sacrifice
of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings.
And all this was allusional.

Sed si referamus ad figuratum, sic

dicendum est, quod est duplex
Hierusalem; scilicet caelestis. Gal. 4. "Illa
quae sursum est Hierusalem, libera est,
quae est mater nostra." Alia est praesens
Ecclesia exemplata ab illa. Apoc. 21.
"Vidi civitatem sanctam Hierusalem
novam, descendentem de caelo a Deo."

But if we refer to the figurative, so it must be said,

there is a two-fold Jerusalem; that is heavenly.
Galatians 4. "That Jerusalem, which is above, is
free: which is our mother. The other is the
present Church, imaged from her. Apoc. 21. "I
saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God."

Et utraque habet muros. Muri caelestis

Hierusalem sunt munimenta aeternitatis,
et immortalitatis, quam consecuti sunt
sancti per Christum. Rom. 8. "Qui
suscitavit Iesum Christum, vivificabit et
mortalia corpora nostra." Muri praesentis
Hierusalem, scilicet Ezech. 13. "Non
stetistis ex adverso, ne opposuistis
murum pro domo Israel, ut staretis in
praelio."
Aedificationem
istorum
praevidebat spiritu prophetiae Isaias 56.
Ad hoc ergo quod aedificentur isti muri,
tu, Domine, fac benigne, idest, ostende
benignitatem hanc: quam benignitatem
Apostolus Tit. 3. dicit impletam. "Apparuit
benignitas, et humanitas salvatoris nostri
Dei."

And both have walls. The walls of the heavenly

Jerusalem are bulwarks of eternity and of
immortality, which the saints pursued through
Christ. Romans 8. "He that raised up Jesus
Christ, shall quicken also our mortal bodies."
The walls of the present Jerusalem, to wit,
Ezechiel 13. "You have not stood up to face the
enemy, nor have you set up a wall for the house
of Israel, to stand in battle." He foresaw their
building in the spirit of the prophecy of Isaias 56.
For this, therefore, that those walls might be
built, deal favourably, O Lord, that is, show forth
this goodness, which goodness the Apostle says
is accomplished in Titus 3. "The goodness and
kindness of God our Saviour appeared."

Et hoc non propter merita nostra, sed

And this is not on account of our merits, but on

propter tuam voluntatem bonam. Rom.

12. "Ut probetis quae fit voluntas Dei
bona, et beneplacens, et perfecta." I
Thes. 4. "Haec est voluntas Dei
sanctificatio vestra." Et hoc facias ad hoc
ut aedificentur muri Hierusalem, vel
militantis, vel triumphantis.

account of your good will. Romans 12. "That you

may prove what is the good, and the acceptable,
and the perfect will of God." I Thes. 4. "This is
the will of God, your sanctification." And this you
should do for that end that the walls of
Jerusalem may be built up, either militant or
triumphant.

Sed quid erit? Tunc acceptabis

sacrificium iustitiae Hoc autem tripliciter
exponitur: et duo primi modi pertinent ad
Ecclesiam praesentem. Uno modo quod
hoc referamus ad sacrificium, non quo
trucidantur pecora, sed quo occiduntur
homines propter Christum, et in hoc est
duplex gradus: quia primum locum tenet
sacrificium Christi. Galat. 2. "Dilexit me,
et tradidit semetipsum pro me." Et ideo
dicit, Tunc, idest in aedificatione murorum
Hierusalem, idest Ecclesiae, acceptabis
sacrificium iustitiae, quo Christus se
obtulit, qui iustus est. Ioan. 8. "Quis ex
vobis arguet me de peccato?"

But what will it be? Then shalt thou accept the

sacrifice of justice. And this is explained in a
three-fold way: and the first two ways relate to
the present Church. For in one way we are to
refer to this sacrifice, not in which cattle are
slaughtered, but in which men are slain for the
sake of Christ, and in this there is a two-fold
step: for the sacrifice of Christ holds the first
place. Gal. 2. "He loved me and delivered
himself for me." And therefore he says, Then,
that is in the building of the walls of Jerusalem,
that is, of the Church, shalt thou accept the
sacrifice of justice, whereby Christ, who is just,
offered himself. John 8. "Which of you shall
convince me of sin?"

Et quia tantae virtutis est ut satisfaceret

pro homine, ut iustificaret eum.
Secundum locum tenent alii sancti qui se
propter Deum obtulerunt in sacrificium:
unde
dicit, Oblationes,
scilicet
confessores, qui confitendo Christum,
quantum in se est, obtulerunt se morti,
licet non sint occisi. Iudic. 5. "Qui sponte
obtulistis de Israel animas vestras ad
periculum, benedicite Domino."

And it is because he is of such great virtue that

he gave satisfaction for man in order to justify
him. The other holy ones who, for the sake of
God, offered themselves in sacrifice, hold the
second place: whence he says, Oblations, that
is, confessors, who by confessing Christ, as
much as in them, offered themselves to death, it
is not permitted that they should have been
slain. Judges 5. "O you of Israel, that have
willingly offered your lives to danger, bless the
Lord."

Et holocausta. Isti sunt martyres. Ioan. 15.

"Maiorem caritatem nemo habet, ut
animam suam ponat quis pro amicis
suis." Et tunc accentabis, quando ita ipso
sancti imponent se tanquam vitulos super
altare tuum; idest, super fidem tuam, et
super Christum, idest, exponent se
tamquam vitulos, propter Christum, et
fidem Christi ad immolandum.

And whole burnt offerings. These are the

martyrs. John 15. "Greater love no man hath, that
a man lay down his life for his friends." And then
shalt thou accept, when thus these same holy
ones lay themselves like calves upon your altar;
that is, upon your faith, and upon Christ; that is,
they set themselves like calves for the sake of
Christ, and faith in Christ, for immolation.

Alio modo ut referatur quantum ad opera

iustorum: et sic est sensus: Acceptabis

In another way, as may be related so far as

concerns the works of the just: and the sense is

iustitiam, sicut sacrificium, quia opera

iustitiae, et misericordiae sunt sicut
sacrificium. Heb. ultimo. "Beneficentiae,
et communionis nolite oblivisci: talibus
enim hostiis promeretur Deus." Et tunc
accipies
oblationes.
Secundum
Gregorium, holocaustum est quod totum
incendebatur; et signat perfectos viros,
qui totaliter dant se Deo.

this: You will accept justice as a sacrifice, for the

works of justice and of mercy are like a sacrifice.
Hebrews 13. "Do not forget to do good, and to
impart; for by such sacrifices God's favour is
obtained." And then you will accept oblations.
According to Gregory, a holocaust is that which
was wholly burned; and it signifies perfect men
who give themselves totally to God.

Oblationes sunt illi qui aliquid offerunt, et

aliquid reservant: et tunc sacerdotes
imponent vitulos, idest, conversos de
n o v o , super altare, idest super fidem
Christi: vel tunc praelati maiores
imponent
praedicatores
mugientes
doctrina fidei super altare, idest super
confessione fidei.

Oblations are those who offer something and

reserve something: and then the priests shall lay
calves, that is, the newly converted, upon the
altar, that is, upon the faith of Christ: or then the
greater prelates will lay preachers groaning with
instruction in faith upon the altar, that is, upon
the confession of faith.

Tertia expositio est de caelesti

Hierusalem; et est sensus: Tunc, scilicet
quando aedificabuntur muri caelestis
H i e r u s a l e m , acceptabis
sacrificium
iustitiae. Hic quandoque fit sacrificium
poenitentiae; sed ibi est tantum laudis.
Isa.60. "Populus tuus omnes iusti in
perpetuum hereditabunt terram." Et hoc
est illud sacrificium laudis de quo Psal.
6 3 . Beati qui habitant in domo tua, in
saecula saeculorum laudabunt te. Et tunc
oblationes, idest sanctos minores, et
holocausta, idest sanctos maiores
acceptabis. Et hoc offerent Angeli, quibus
dicitur, Matth. 13. "Triticum autem
congregate in horreum meum." Et isti
A ngel i imponent sanctos super altare
tuum, idest in gloriam caelestem. Apoc. 8.
"Data sunt ei incensa multa, ut darent de
orationibus sanctorum omnium super
altare aureum." Ps. 68. Placabit Deo
super
vitulum
novellum
cornua
producentem, et ungulas.

There is a third explanation about the heavenly

Jerusalem; and the sense is: Then, namely
when the walls of the heavenly Jerusalem shall
be built up, shalt thou accept the sacrifice of
justice. Here, whenever a sacrifice of penitence
is made; but there there is so much of praise.
Isaias 60. "Thy people shall be all just, they shall
inherit the land for ever." And this is that sacrifice
of praise about which Psalm 63 speaks. Blessed
are they that dwell in thy house, forever shall
they praise thee. And then oblations, that is the
lesser saints, and whole burnt offerings, that is,
the greater saints you will accept. And this the
Angels will offer, to whom it is said, Matth. 13.
"But the wheat gather up into my barn." And
these Angels shall lay the saints upon thy altar,
that is, into heavenly glory. Apoc. 8. "And there
was given to him much incense, that he should
offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden
altar." Psalm 68. It shall Please God better than
a young calf, that bringeth forth horns and hoofs.

Latin Text according to the Venice Edition of MDCCLXXV

The Aquinas Translation Project (http://www4.desales.edu/~philtheo/loughlin/ATP/index.html)